The Mysterious Four piece return with powerful and haunting new album…
In past decades, the typical career rhythm for bands and artists followed a predictable cycle:
release an album, go on tour, disappear from the spotlight, then return with a new album, tour
again, and repeat. It was a monotonous loop driven by industry expectations, with little variation
and long periods of silence between each phase. In this modern age and the rise of streaming
alongside social media platforms, artists no longer have the luxury of disappearing, you lose
relevancy and risk falling off the planet entirely in the eyes and minds of your audience.
The relentless pressure to stay relevant must be exhausting for musicians, especially when
coupled with the challenge of appeasing a fanbase whose devotion can swing from indifference
to obsession in an instant. Under this intense and constant scrutiny, Sleep Token have
emerged with their fourth offering, Even In Arcadia.
As if the weight of expectation weren’t heavy enough, there’s also the small matter of following
Take Me Back to Eden, an award-winning, majestic album that launched Sleep Token into
mainstream prominence. But worry not: Vessel and company seem to shine brightest under
pressure. Look to Windward opens with delicate, lilting, and slightly discordant Zelda-esque
synths, gradually flooding your headphones like a rising tide. The build feels inevitable, and
when the monstrous riff finally hits, it’s nothing short of sublime. But Sleep Token isn’t done.
Their versatility is on full display, haunting, heavy, and heart-wrenching. The track pulls you in
every direction. It’s a remarkable introduction.
If Look to Windward’s hypnotic beginning pulled you beneath the surface, then Emergence
ensures you sink deeper into Vessel’s world. A delicate piano intro gives way to soaring vocals,
creating a mesmeric atmosphere that builds with electronic textures—showcasing exactly what
makes Sleep Token so distinctive. II, one of the most inventive drummers in modern metal,
plays with precision and intent, propelling the track forward with both swagger and intensity. And
just when you think the song has revealed all its layers, Gabi Rose’s soulful saxophone
emerges in the outro, gently lulling you toward silence as the track fades like a dream.
‘Past Self’ is pure Rn’B, showcasing the band’s ongoing ability to blend genres with ease. In
contrast, ‘Dangerous’ leans heavily into electronica with an ominous, intense slow burn that
captures the feeling of unhealthy passion. Vessel’s lyrics heighten this mood: “It’s like you’re
dangerous to me, I notice every time we meet, I feel the ground beneath my feet giving way.”
The emotional conflict is palpable, both in the words and the atmosphere they create.
And the conflict deepens in ‘Caramel’, and not just with the lyrics. The song’s reggaeton intro
builds into a soaring chorus, climaxing with a truly brutal black metal flex to finish. This song is
perhaps Vessel at his most confessional, ‘Too young to get bitter over it all, too old to retaliate
like before, too blessed to be caught ungrateful, I know’. Despite the fiercely guarded
anonymity, the band are still desperately trying to cling on to, there is clearly still the matter of
struggles with life in the spotlight and the trappings of fame that come with it.
‘Even in Arcadia’, softens the mood, allowing the listener to take a brief respite before the
second act begins. It begins with ‘Provider’, which see’s the band delving deep into R&B again,
delivering a seductive groove intertwined with heavy guitar hooks that draw you in. Ferocious
breakdowns follow, allowing II to impress once again.
There’s so much to admire in Sleep Token’s genre-bending, expansive sound that it makes the
arrival of ‘Damocles’ feel all the more striking. Structurally, it’s one of the simplest songs the
band has released. It’s stripped back, raw, and direct. Once again, Vessel is in a deeply
introspective space, contemplating the future with a quiet fear: that this moment, this
connection, might be fleeting, destined to fade as the world moves on to the next phenomenon.
There is a fragility with Gethsemane from the beginning, It’s earnest, soft and honest. A lighter
tone that we are not used to hearing from the band. The song has little hints of ‘Euclid’ about it,
gorgeous, uplifting moments that rise and fall. The hip hop influences towards the end are also
a little reminiscent of ‘Take Me Back To Eden’. It’s a fantastic combination of the two, whilst
also exhibiting the evolution of their sound.
‘Infinite Baths’ takes its time to unfold, offering glimpses of the signature moments that make
Sleep Token so compelling, without immediately delivering a knockout. It finally hits its stride
with a stunning homage to Pink Floyd that emerges halfway through. Lush, immersive, and
brilliantly executed. From there, it plunges into a viscous, Deftones-esque breakdown that
grows increasingly intense. The result is a colossal, emotionally charged finale that brings the
album to a devastating and powerful close.
There’s no denying that Even In Arcadia is a fantastic album, but will it divide fans? Possibly.
That’s often the reality for bands who’ve reached this level of notoriety; pleasing everyone
becomes impossible. Let’s not forget the mixed reception Take Me Back to Eden initially received. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the direction a band takes is theirs alone.
What matters is appreciating the work for what it is. Is it perfect? No, perfection is a myth. But
within this record are truly spectacular moments that reaffirm Sleep Token’s mastery and solidify
their place as a powerhouse in modern music.
Even In Arcadia is out now via RCA Records. Follow, consume and learn more about Sleep Token here.
